MX-5: Utah practice two notes

Huffmaster Fastest Overall in MX-5 Cup Practice at Utah
TOOELE, Utah (Sept. 19, 2008) -- Robert Huffmaster, of Clarkston,
Mich., was quickest in afternoon practice for Round Six of the SCCA Pro
Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, part of the ...

Huffmaster Fastest Overall in MX-5 Cup Practice at Utah

TOOELE, Utah (Sept. 19, 2008) -- Robert Huffmaster, of Clarkston,
Mich., was quickest in afternoon practice for Round Six of the SCCA Pro
Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, part of the SunRichGourmet.com 1000
Presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels at Miller Motorsports
Park. Huffmaster's afternoon time was also the fastest practice
time of the day. Brad Rampelberg, of San Jose, Calif., and Ryan Schimsk,
of Austin, Texas, were second and third fastest, respectively.

Though menacing clouds hung over the 24-turn, 4.486-mile Miller
Motorsports Park throughout the 25-minute practice session, precipitation
was not an issue and nearly every driver was able to improve on their
morning practice time, Huffmaster included. In his first-ever trip to
Miller Motorsports Park, Huffmaster went from third in the morning
session to the top of the time sheets in the afternoon.

"This is my first time at Miller Motorsports Park,"
Huffmaster said. "I love it. I like the fact that it doesn't
have elevation. Usually I don't like that, but I do like the fact
that it's flat and smooth and has a good rhythm to it."

Driving the No. 27 Team MER/Huffmaster Co. MX-5, Huffmaster clocked a
3:20.389 (80.591 mph) to lead the session and top the overall practice
times. Huffmaster was thankful for time spent in a racing simulator and
at the track's test day, which helped him get up to speed so
quickly on North America's longest road course.

"I was playing on a game simulator called "R Factor,"
and I did about 50 laps on that, so at least I knew where left and right
were. We also had a test day and two hours was a good time to learn the
track."

Huffmaster and the rest of the MX-5 Cup paddock don't have a moment
to spare before qualifying for Round Six begins at 5 p.m. (MDT) today.

"It's tough [having a busy day]. I can't be too excited
about leading practice, because qualifying is coming right up and
everything is going to change in qualifying."

Fastest in the morning session, Rampelberg couldn't match
Huffmaster's pace in the afternoon and ended the session in second.
Rampelberg was able to improve on his morning time, setting a 3:20.767
(80.439 mph) in the No. 14 Hooverspeed/Mazda/Patron Tequila MX-5.

Schimsk also improved on his morning time, breaking the 3:21 mark by
entering a 3:20.805 (80.424 mph) in his No. 81 Team MER/Airco Mechanical
MX-5.

Championship point leader Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, was fourth.
Foss was able to chisel away slightly on his morning time and turn a
3:21.001 (80.345 mph) in the No. 28 Team MER/Autobarn Mazda MX-5.

Ara Malkhassian, of Sonoma, Calif., completed the top five in the No. 11
Alara Racing MX-5 with a lap of 3:21.578 (80.115 mph).

Todd Buras picked up two spots from the morning session to end the
afternoon in sixth. Brad McAllister, Mike Jenkins, Harrison Williams and
Alison Malkhassian completed the top 10 in the afternoon session.

Of the those 10, only Jenkins set a faster time in the morning, which
placed him ahead of McAllister on the combined practice times for the
day.

Qualifying for Round Six of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup
will begin at 5 p.m. (MDT) today. Live timing and notes are available at
www.mx-5cup.com. The race will take place Saturday at 9:55 a.m. (MDT).